Is this an unreasonable optometrist request?
May 15, 2017 1:18 PM Subscribe
My optometrist has seen me over the past 5 years and is familiar with my problems with severe astigmatism and dry eyes.
Last year I was in his office 3 times trying to get my glasses with progressive lenses fitted correctly. I'm Asian so the bridge of my nose is very short and the glasses kept slipping down. He spent the first two visits playing around with the arm pads and ear pieces. The third visit he finally measured again to compensate for the slippage. It worked although I had to wait another 2 weeks for the new lenses to be installed. With my astigmatism, we agreed my contacts were fine for long distance and I was fine with wearing reading glasses for my daily computer work and close reading.
This year, my appointment was in late February. I reminded him about last years fiasco and he promised to measure to adjust for my short bridge. Since then, I've wanted to rest my dry eyes a bit and use my glasses all the time. But I simply can't see well and have resorted to constantly taking off my glasses or peering over them for close up vision. Last month, I broke down and tried the new contact lenses - this time he encouraged me to try one eye for short distance and another for long distance and this doesn't work either. My brain simply can't adjust and I want to go back using reading glasses with the contacts. Between new lenses and glasses plus the contacts, I've spent well over $500.
I just called his office. I explained the situation and asked if the doctor can issue a another contact lenses for long distance. I also want him to re-measure and adjust my glasses again. The office staff insists I pay for a whole new exam because my eye could have dramatically changed since February 21st.
I find this really stupid and unreasonable and argued with the staff about a full payment. The office manager relented - I should pay $25 for a mini-exam. I'm ready to throw my glasses and contacts out in the garbage and frustrated that I essentially had poor vision since that last appointment at the end of February and spent so much money.
What could I have done differently? Should I stick it out with him (I wanted to support a small business rather than a chain) or try my luck with another optometrist?
Last year I was in his office 3 times trying to get my glasses with progressive lenses fitted correctly. I'm Asian so the bridge of my nose is very short and the glasses kept slipping down. He spent the first two visits playing around with the arm pads and ear pieces. The third visit he finally measured again to compensate for the slippage. It worked although I had to wait another 2 weeks for the new lenses to be installed. With my astigmatism, we agreed my contacts were fine for long distance and I was fine with wearing reading glasses for my daily computer work and close reading.
This year, my appointment was in late February. I reminded him about last years fiasco and he promised to measure to adjust for my short bridge. Since then, I've wanted to rest my dry eyes a bit and use my glasses all the time. But I simply can't see well and have resorted to constantly taking off my glasses or peering over them for close up vision. Last month, I broke down and tried the new contact lenses - this time he encouraged me to try one eye for short distance and another for long distance and this doesn't work either. My brain simply can't adjust and I want to go back using reading glasses with the contacts. Between new lenses and glasses plus the contacts, I've spent well over $500.
I just called his office. I explained the situation and asked if the doctor can issue a another contact lenses for long distance. I also want him to re-measure and adjust my glasses again. The office staff insists I pay for a whole new exam because my eye could have dramatically changed since February 21st.
I find this really stupid and unreasonable and argued with the staff about a full payment. The office manager relented - I should pay $25 for a mini-exam. I'm ready to throw my glasses and contacts out in the garbage and frustrated that I essentially had poor vision since that last appointment at the end of February and spent so much money.
What could I have done differently? Should I stick it out with him (I wanted to support a small business rather than a chain) or try my luck with another optometrist?
You can tell the office contact with whom you interact that you're on the verge of finding a new practitioner based on your experience this year. That could (and should) prompt them to do whatever it takes to keep you with their practice.
There's unfortunately little we can do as patients to compel expedient, inexpensive expert visits. It's not in their interest to bargain unless they suspect they're at risk for losing a patient, especially a long-term patient. If can be uncomfortable to do so, but in this position you have to be your own advocate.
(Anecdotally, I've never had an eye doc whose office experience was very different from what you've been going through. They know this. Last year I had a similar frustrating experience and I asked for a copy of my medical records to be printed that I could pick up from the office When I came to pick them up, the papers had a note on top asking me to wait to talk to the doctor. She did what she could in the moment to keep me placated, which was nice, but in the long run not much has changed.)
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 1:28 PM on May 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
There's unfortunately little we can do as patients to compel expedient, inexpensive expert visits. It's not in their interest to bargain unless they suspect they're at risk for losing a patient, especially a long-term patient. If can be uncomfortable to do so, but in this position you have to be your own advocate.
(Anecdotally, I've never had an eye doc whose office experience was very different from what you've been going through. They know this. Last year I had a similar frustrating experience and I asked for a copy of my medical records to be printed that I could pick up from the office When I came to pick them up, the papers had a note on top asking me to wait to talk to the doctor. She did what she could in the moment to keep me placated, which was nice, but in the long run not much has changed.)
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 1:28 PM on May 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
They're being unreasonable, in my opinion. My understanding of general glasses practice is that the prescription is good for a year, if not more (if your vision has been generally stable over time). It hasn't even been three months. That's ridiculous and they owe it to you to make your new glasses fit correctly.
posted by augustimagination at 1:47 PM on May 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by augustimagination at 1:47 PM on May 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
You sound pretty frustrated, and I would be too in your position. If you have other options, I'd suggest looking for a new provider. With healthcare or service-industry issues like this, I often find that past bad experiences will color my future experiences, and every time I go back to $bad experience place, I'm expecting a bad time, which can result in a self-fulfilling prophecy. So instead of just trying to deal with the bad vibes, try another provider.
posted by craven_morhead at 2:12 PM on May 15, 2017
posted by craven_morhead at 2:12 PM on May 15, 2017
If your insurance covers it go to a ophthalmologist.
posted by gregr at 2:15 PM on May 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by gregr at 2:15 PM on May 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
For what it's worth, Warby Parker has low-bridge glasses that are made to fit Asian faces and other folks with lower/shallower bridges, plus quite a few other glasses manufacturers are also working to fill that market gap. (Many also have 30 day, or 1yr warranties that cover fit.) It's worth it to get glasses specifically made to fit your face shape, and moreover there may not be much of a reason to buy glasses directly from your optician or ophthalmologist, unless you have an especially hard-to-get-right prescription, plus they're required (by law, right?) to give you your prescription and let you take it elsewhere.
Also, as far as glasses purchases go, unless you're buying super high-end, hand-made frames, there are only five or six big frame manufacturers anymore. So while you could be supporting a small business, they're almost certainly getting their products from one of those few big companies. Perhaps
posted by tapir-whorf at 2:24 PM on May 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, as far as glasses purchases go, unless you're buying super high-end, hand-made frames, there are only five or six big frame manufacturers anymore. So while you could be supporting a small business, they're almost certainly getting their products from one of those few big companies. Perhaps
posted by tapir-whorf at 2:24 PM on May 15, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah, no. That's B.S. Fight them on this and go back and have them redo the work you paid $500 for. Let them know you're not happy and that you're considering taking your business elsewhere in the future. I do think you should have them fix this issue before taking your business elsewhere since you've already paid so much back in Feb.
posted by vivzan at 2:27 PM on May 15, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by vivzan at 2:27 PM on May 15, 2017 [3 favorites]
Definitely not unreasonable. Also, my wife had problems with dry eyes that turned out to be medical issues, and I'd encourage you, as gregr did, to consider an ophthalmologist. Optometrists (good ones, anyway) do just fine with vision correction on healthy eyes, but in my wife's case he seemed to want to fiddle with the dry eye problem rather than refer her, which postponed her getting some medical attention she needed. Ophthalmologists, being MDs, are better positioned to either treat issues or refer you to another specialist as needed (in my wife's case, she turned out to have psoriatic arthritis and needed to see a rheumatologist).
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:23 PM on May 15, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:23 PM on May 15, 2017 [5 favorites]
"this time he encouraged me to try one eye for short distance and another for long distance and this doesn't work either."
Wait, have one of your eyes able to see long distances and one eye able to see up close? Am I understanding this correctly? Because that sounds really weird to me. Maybe it's a thing, but I would just go to a different doctor, personally. At least then you get a second opinion and maybe the new doctor will be better able to help you.
posted by AppleTurnover at 5:44 PM on May 15, 2017
Wait, have one of your eyes able to see long distances and one eye able to see up close? Am I understanding this correctly? Because that sounds really weird to me. Maybe it's a thing, but I would just go to a different doctor, personally. At least then you get a second opinion and maybe the new doctor will be better able to help you.
posted by AppleTurnover at 5:44 PM on May 15, 2017
AppleTurnover, they're called "monovision lenses" and they work great for lots of people (me, for instance.)
IndigoOnTheGo, can you find an Asian eye doctor who might be more experienced with fitting Asian faces?
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:56 PM on May 15, 2017
IndigoOnTheGo, can you find an Asian eye doctor who might be more experienced with fitting Asian faces?
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:56 PM on May 15, 2017
He made his effort, even if it failed - I guess he ought to be paid for that time, and that's what it's apparently worth. (You might be able to get something for the actual glasses though.)
But I would *not* want to go back to that guy, if I were you! Why would you, when you know he's reached the limit of his ability to address the issue, and will probably get it wrong again?
A distance of a few mm can make a big difference in vision with glasses, it's really important that they fit correctly. (Check out "Asian fit" glasses, which are designed to fit shorter bridges. [I'm not Asian but have a need for that fit, there are some nice styles. Good to see someone experienced in fitting them, get a rec for your area].)
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:09 AM on May 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
But I would *not* want to go back to that guy, if I were you! Why would you, when you know he's reached the limit of his ability to address the issue, and will probably get it wrong again?
A distance of a few mm can make a big difference in vision with glasses, it's really important that they fit correctly. (Check out "Asian fit" glasses, which are designed to fit shorter bridges. [I'm not Asian but have a need for that fit, there are some nice styles. Good to see someone experienced in fitting them, get a rec for your area].)
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:09 AM on May 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
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I'd hit up your network to see what optometrists and ophthalmologists are well regarded and switch to one of them.
posted by uberchet at 1:22 PM on May 15, 2017 [7 favorites]